Volleyball: Impressive spikers to get PSB funding

Volleyball federation says sports board willing to get foreign coach.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) President Muhammad Chaudhry has said that a good performance by the team at the Asian Championship last month has convinced the country’s sports board to invest in the sport’s development.

Pakistan finished seventh in the 16-team event which was held in Tehran and defeated Kazakhstan, Thailand and defending champions Japan on their way to the quarter-final where they lost to Australia.

According to Chaudhry, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has promised a foreign coach for the team. The PVF president added that the performance was impressive since Pakistan participated at international level after a three-year gap.

“After hockey, volleyball is the sport that can clinch the Asian title for the country,” Chaudry told The Express Tribune. “The PSB has never taken it seriously but the recent performance has proved them wrong. If we’re given enough funds we can participate in more events.”

However, Chaudhry said that the federation is satisfied at the way the new talent in the team has flourished. He added that regional coaching camps will also be organised from next month, which will help the federation in choosing players for the Asian Junior Championship next year.

“We have a lot of talent in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The biggest hindrance, however, is grooming these players. But the PSB has promised us two coaches, one for the junior players while another for the national team.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2011.